Parish Community
HOME VISITS
Volunteers bring Holy Communion to homebound parishioners and also to area nursing home patients on a weekly basis and on a schedule which is mutually advantageous to all. Service to the homebound at their residence is usually because of chronic medical or other circumstances that keep them from coming to church. This ministry’s mission is to provide union with Christ, spiritual comfort, and ongoing contact with the parish.
STEPHEN MINISTRY
Stephen Ministry is a one-on-one lay caring ministry that takes place in our parishes. Stephen Ministry lay caregivers are non-professional parishioners who are equipped to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are struggling from divorce, job loss, grief, illness, or some other life crisis. Stephen Ministry Leaders assign a care giver who can best serve the parishioner who is in need.
HEALTH MINISTRY
“Freely you have received; freely give.”
Qualified RNs provide free blood pressure screenings and information on blood pressure control to parishioners after Masses – at St. Paul on the 2nd Sunday of each month, at St. Rita on the 3rd Sunday of each month, and at Precious Blood on the last Sunday of each month.
BEREAVEMENT
“Blessed are those who weep and mourn for they shall be comforted”
The Bereavement Ministry will serve families who have lost a loved one to death through the Catholic Communities of Northwest Dayton. The members of the ministry are trained to provide comfort and support to the grieving families by giving them our time, hearing their thoughts, and sharing their tears.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
Our three parishes have a conference dedicated to serving the impoverished within our geographical parish boundaries. Together, these Vincentians manage and run a food pantry, collect food and gift cards for Christmas gift baskets, conduct drives to collect items for Fill the House, and offer financial assistance to those desperately needing help with home or utility expenses. Parishioners support this outreach ministry through contributions by use of designated Sunday collection envelopes and by supporting specific fundraisers throughout the year. If you are in need of assistance, call 937-771-6773.
In the Greater Dayton area, the St. Vincent DePaul District Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which annually serves over 100,000 needy people in the Miami Valley with faith-based assistance, shelter, and hope. The members, staff, and volunteers of the District Council, through its conferences and special works, provide person-to-person emergency assistance and supportive services to Montgomery County people in need. They also provide aid to those on the brink of being homeless, to those who are currently homeless, and to those working to secure permanent housing. For more information visit www.stvincentdayton.org.
General Community
GOD’S GARDEN
God’s Garden is a volunteer-run garden that provides needy families with fresh locally-grown produce that they otherwise may not be able to obtain. The garden is a product of the efforts of parishioners from of all three parishes and is located on the St. Paul Parish grounds.
NORTHMONT COMMUNITY TABLE
The purpose of the Community Table is to provide a community gathering place where people experiencing emotional and financial stress can secure temporary food and shelter, learn in classes and in small groups, and/or develop relationships that support healthy and sustainable lives in the larger communities. Membership in the Community Table is open to any local Christian congregation, civic, governmental and charitable organizations in the Northmont area. It is funded by donations from each Church as well as Corporate and Community donations. The Community Table received its 501 (c)(3) exemption from the IRS.
Brunner Literacy Center
This is a shared ministry with the Sisters of the Precious Blood. Founded in 2010, the ministry has grown from a small room to a 6000+ square foot area within the Precious Blood Parish Outreach Center. The center was established in order to increase literacy in the surrounding area. Studies showed that the county’s lowest literacy rates existed in the area surrounding the parish. Literacy is critical for individuals wanting to improve their lives. The Center offers free, one-on-one tutoring to adults who desire to earn a GED, improve basic reading and/or math skills, or learn basic computer skills. The Brunner Literacy Center thrives because of so many caring and competent individuals. The center has more than one hundred volunteers who meet each week engaging their students in educational pursuits.